I loved the design of this quarterly anthology but as with any
anthology you get a mixed bag of work. Hardknock is a labor of love for six former
Northern Illinois University art students and the output in these two issues certainly
shows it. The creators are billing Hardknock as a comic but to me it really felt like a
zine.

The stand-out pieces in Hardknock #5 were the Stumps
McGraw short, "Midnight Dissection" by Bernard Carson and "Story," an
impressionistic journey of two philosophically dissimilar travelers by Sean Bates with
art by Craig Gunderson. The Stumps McGraw story was compelling by virtue of its sheer
weirdness. Hardknock #6 also had a Stumps McGraw story but the illustration style
was extremely sketchy.

Issue six was a better package overall. "Minute
Man" by Craig Gunderson was about a second-rate hero who avoids the call asking him
to assist in defusing a bomb because all of the "A-list" heroes are away on a
mission and was amusing. "Jesus is Where You Find It" written by Nick Wetmore
and illustrated by Mikel Samson tells the story of pathetic strip joint patron, White Head
and was a compelling yet disturbing read.

If youre looking for an interesting zine
experience give Hardknock a try. Each issue is an attractive package of comics,
faux advertisements and text pieces. If you like a lot of "art" with your comics
this title could be right up your alley.